Atlanta

Atlanta is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Georgia, established as a city on 29 December 1847. The area was ceded to the white settlers by the Creek Native Americans in 1821, and it was first developed as a zero mile post for a new railroad in 1836; by 1842, the town had six buildings and 30 residents and was known as "Marthasville", and it became a city in 1847 under the name "Atlanta". By 1860, the population had grown to 9,554 people, and the city was a railroad center and a supply hub for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War of the 1860s. On 11 November 1864, the Union general William T. Sherman had the city burnt down during the March to the Sea, sparing only the city's churches and hospitals from destruction. In 1868, Atlanta replaced Milledgeville as the new state capital of Georgia, and the city was gradually rebuilt. During the early 1900s, Atlanta's population tripled as the city expanded to include streetcar suburbs, and the city became a center of industry during the mid-20th century. During the 1960s, Atlanta was a major support base for the Civil Rights movement, and Atlanta's first black mayor was elected in 1973. From 1975 to 1979, a subway system was built in Atlanta, and the city hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics, which were attacked when an anti-abortion terrorist bombed the Centennial Olympic Park. During the 2000s, immigrants and young Americans moved into Atlanta, causing for a demographic change to occur. In 2015, the Atlanta area had a population of 6,365,108 people, with 51.4% being African-American, 38.3% white, 4.7% Hispanic, and 3.7% Asian.